These are the schools that were in session in the area of the following places:
Machinato Housing Area
Machinato Service Area
Makiminato Housing Area
Makiminato Service Area
Camp Kinser (After 1978)
The area of coverage for this page is from Machinato (Makiminato
The names Machinato and Makiminato are interchangeable. Machinato was the name of these places before the island was reverted back to the Japanese government. Machinato is a close American approximation of the Okinawan language name. After the Island was reverted to the Japanese, these names were change to the Japanese language name, Makiminato.
Camp Kinser requires just a bit of qualification. Camp Kinser Started out as a marine base in a largely Army Dominant Okinawa. The original Camp Kinser was actually just to the north of Kadena. This page only includes the Camp Kinser that was south of Kadena in the old Machinato (Makiminato) Service Area.
Machinato Elementary School Fall 1957 to Spring 1963 Machinato Service Area Okinawa
Not much is known about Machinato Elementary School. We know it was in the remodeled barracks buildings in the location shown on the aerial photos and it existed just a few years. Other than a single photo of the barracks buildings, we have nothing more.
Machinato Elementary School / Makiminato Elementary School Fall 1969 to Spring 1975 Machinato / Makiminato Housing Area Okinawa
This school is somewhat unique. It started as Kindergarten through 5th grade. In 1974 the 6th grade was added and in 1975 the 7th and 8th grades were added. There was an elementary and a middleschool wing. The sign dropped the word "Elementary" and it was known as Makiminato School. Yearbooks reference Makiminato School. Kids that attended remember Makiminato Elementary and Makiminato Middle School. One Document (a book about Dodds Schools in 1986 Calls out Makiminato Elementary and Middle Schools. In 1984 the 7th and 8th graders moved out and the word "Elementary" was restored in the Yearbooks. We have found at least one document that uses Makiminato Elementary and Makiminato Middle.
Machinato Housing Area (Pre Reversion) Makiminato Housing Area (Post Reversion)
Image of Machinato Housing in 1964 .... with an empty field waiting for a school to be built.
Makiminato Elementary School / Makiminato Middle School Fall 1975 to Spring 1984 Makiminato Housing Area Okinawa
When Naha Middle School closed, the 7th and 8th graders were included in Makiminato Elementary. One Wing of the School was middle school, the other was elementary school.
Makiminato Elementary School Fall 1984 to Spring Break 1987 Makiminato Housing Area Okinawa
The 7th and 8th graders were moved from Makiminato School to Kubasaki High School. Makiminato went back to being Makiminato Elementary School.
Kinser Elementary School Fall 1987 to Spring Present Camp Kinser Okinawa
Makiminato Service Area was renamed Camp Kinser in the 1978 Timeframe. The Army pulled out of Makiminato Service Area and the Marines moved Camp Kinser from northeast of Kadena Air Base to the empty MSA.
We have no pictures of this school, the current Kinser Elementary. We would like to get a few, sometime soon.
Anyone that has any additional information about this site, the school, the people, the circumstances, memories, written or photographic, please contact us!!
© 2006 - 2024 Kubasaki High School Alumni Association All Rights Reserved.
